The order is valued at more than £35m and is for more than 1,000 machines. It is the biggest order that JCB’ has received so far this year from a UK customer.
A-Plant spent £100m on new equipment last year and plans a similar investment in 2014. The JCB order primarily comprises mini and midi excavators, Loadall telehandlers, rough terrain forklifts, Teletruks and 3CX backhoe loaders.
It also includes a number of 13-tonne JS130 crawler excavators, a new addition to the A-Plant fleet.
All equipment will be made in the UK and delivered to A-Plant depots nationwide throughout 2014.
The order was placed through dealer Greenshields JCB, with whom A-Plant has traded for more than 25 years, and this latest order counts as its largest in recent years. In 2013 A-Plant ordered 800 JCB machines and a further 550 in 2012.
A-Plant marketing director Asif Latief said: “This order allows us to meet with the increasing demand in the market place and continue to supply one of the youngest and most up to date fleets in the industry.
“We have also added the new JS130 tracked excavators to our fleet to service the contract with the Environment Agency because of its environmental efficiencies which address issues such as CO2 emissions and use biodegradable hydraulic oil. This is a standard requirement on the Environment Agency’s excavators.”
JCB CEO Graeme Macdonald added: “This is a highly significant order and the biggest of the year so far for JCB in the UK. We are delighted that our relationship with A-Plant, which now stretches back more than 25 years, continues to go from strength to strength.
“The UK market is currently the fastest growing in the world and JCB is on course for its best performance in the UK since 2007 which helps to offset downturns in markets such as Brazil, India and Latin America.”
Pictured below from left to right are: Greenshields JCB national accounts director Tom Greenshields, A-Plant marketing director Asif Latief, JCB CEO Graeme Macdonald and JCB UK & Ireland sales director Dan Thompstone.
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